Improvement in harvesters



Z-Sheets-Sheet 1. R. S. GILBERT. Harvester.

No. 222,582. Patented Dec. 16, I879.

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NJEYERS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAPNER,'WASHINQTON. n C.

GILBERT Harvester.

Patented Dec. 16, 1879.

-UNITED STATES PATENT OF- Icn.

ROBERT S. GILBERT, OF WATERFORD, KENTUCKY.

' IMPROVEMENT INHARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,582, dated December16, 1879; application filed July 10, 1879.

in gs, an d to letters of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to reapers; and it consists in the construction andarrangement of certain mechanical devices, whereby a contin uousone-direction motion is imparted to an endless-chain cutter-bar; and itfurther consists in the construction and adaptation to the endless-chaincutter-bar of an adjusting device, whereby a suitable tension isimparted to said cutter-bar, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top-plan view of my invention with aportion of the cutterbar frame removed. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section cut through line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section of the cutter-bar and frame out through liney y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a top-plan view of a portion of theendless-chain cutter-bar with a portion of the links removed; and Fig. 5is a plan view of a modified form of tension mechanism tothe cutter-bar,with the top of frame removed.

To the bodyA of the reaper I attach in any well-known manner an axle, B,so constructed as to revolve with driving-wheels O mounted thereupon.Suitable pawl-and-ratchet-devices (not shown) may be attached to thewheels and axle, so that the axle is only operated while the reaper isadvancing.

Rigidly attached to the axle B is a gearwheel, D, which meshes into apinion, E, loosely located upon a shaft, F. Sliding upon a feather fixedupon the shaft F, and operated by a hand-lever, H, is a ratchet-toothedcollar, Gr, which is made to engage with a corresponding ratchet-toothedsurface constructed upon acollar on the pinion E. This device operatesin a well-known manner to throw in and out of gear the mechanism throughwhich motion is imparted to the cutter-bar while the reaper isadvancing, and may be used as a substitute also for the pawl-and-ratchetmechanism 10- cated near the drix'in g-wheels, heretofore mentioned. j

Rigidly attached to the shaft- F is a crown or bevel-gear wheel, I,which meshes into a' crown or bevel pinion, J, securely mounted upon asupplemental vertically-swin gin g shaft, K. This shaft K is journaledat its forward end in a box, L, pivoted in a line with the central axisof the shaft F, and at or near its rear or lower end in a sleeve, M,which forms a part of the carriage N. Upon the sleeve M is hung theinner shoe, 0, in such a manner as to relieve the shaft K from anydownward strain. Mounted upon either the forward end of shaft K, or upona projecting sleeve cast upon the pivoted box L, through which theforward end of the shaft K passes, is an upwardly-projecting post, a. Tothis post is rigidly attached the forward end of drag-bar Q, whichdetachably passes through the carriage N, and is pivoted, in a line withthe central axis of thesupplemental shaft K,"to a bracket, 1), locatedupon the cutter-bar frame R. The carriage N operates in guides S, and israised or lowered in a circular plane, its center of action being in aline with the central axis of shaft F.

Upon the extreme rear end of shaft K is rigidly attached a crown orbevel wheel,,P, which meshes into a like wheel, T, mounted upon theupper endof shaft 0. This shaft, passing down into the frame R, hasmounted upon its lower end a driving-pulley, U. Around this pulleypasses an endless-chain cutter-bar, V, whiehalso passes around anadjustable pulley, W, located within the outer end of the cutter-barframe. Proper tension is given to the chain by means-ofa nut, d, andscrew-shaft e, which feeds the outer pulley outwardly or inwardly,.asdesired In Fig. 1 this screw-tension is shown as operating immediatelyupon the outer pulley; but in practice I find the methodshown in Fig. 5to be moredesirable. In this latter device the nut and screw shaft islocated in the inner end of the frame R, and when operated carries withit all that portion of the frame upon which is mounted the usual fingersf and the outer pulley, WV. In Fig. 1. the nut is made accessible to andis retained in position by a slot, g, cut through the upper plate of theframe R.

In Fig. 5 the nut operates against a sliding.

bumper, h, which impinges against a block, 6, molded upon the innerstationary end of the frame. The inner end of the adjustable portion ofthe cutter bar frame is guided while being adjusted by means of keys 1)p,-which pass through and ride in slots q q, cut in the adjustableportion of the frame R.

A caster-wheel is attached to the outer end of my cutter-bar frame,'and,when desirable, to the inner end also, in the usual'well-known manner.

Upon each link 1" of the chain Vis mounted a knife, is, in such a mannerand of such construction, that when the links are attached to each otherin the form of a chain, the knives form one continuous straightcutting-edge, as shown in Fig. 1.

The distance between the centers of fingers f is equal to less thanone-half of the length of a link or knife, by means of which proportioneach section or knife will have entered the third finger before it hasleft the first. Each link is also provided with a hook, l, as shown inFig. 4, which clasps around a pin, m, in the next contiguous link, bymeans of Which each separate link or knife can be easily removed to besharpened or replaced.

By providing the knives with a fine saw cutting edge, they operate withbetter effect than if smooth.

WVhen traveling upon the road the outer end of the cutter-bar frame israised in the usual manner by means of lever X, which is provided with adrum, 12, upon which is Wound a liftingchain, 0, attached at its lowerend to the inner shoe or to the inner end of the cutter-bar frame.

A supplemental brace-bar, Y, (shown in dotfwhat I claim as new,

I ted lines, Fig. 1,) secured at its forward end to the body of thereaper, and at its rear end to an eye secured to the cutter-bar frame,may be used when desired to give additional strength to the cutter-barframe and prevent contortion occasioned by too great a lateral pressureupon sleeve M.

Having thus fully described my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In combination with the driving mechanism mounted upon body A, theshaft K, drag-bar Q, cutter-bar V, carriage N, and segmental guides S,all operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

. 2. In combination with the driving mechanism, as described, shoe 0,swinging shaft K, segmental guides S, and carriage N, the sleeve M,constructed to operate as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the driving mechanism of a reaper, the drag-barQ, pivoted box L, projecting post a, and swinging shaft K, all operatingas and for the purposes specified.

4. In combination with an endless chain cutter-bar and pulley, U, thetension mechanism, as described, when operating upon the cutter-barframe It, carrying the fingers f, and the pulley W, in the manner andfor the purpose specified.

5. In combination with the endlesschain cutter-bar V, frame R, pulleys Uand W, tension screw-shaft e, nut d, guide-pinsp, and slots q, the block1' and bumper h, all operat ing as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this14th day of April, 1879.

. R. S. GILBERT. \Vitnesses:

S. A. TERRY, HARRY KING.

